World record holder Tobi Amusan’s highly anticipated return to the hurdles ended in a surprising fourth-place finish on Saturday at the 2025 Diamond League opener in Xiamen, China.
In her first 100m hurdles race since the Paris 2024 Olympics, Amusan clocked 12.74 seconds — a respectable time but not enough to secure a podium finish on a dramatic evening where Jamaica’s reigning world champion Danielle Williams roared from behind to steal the win with 12.53s.
American Grace Stark (12.58s) and South African star Marione Fourie (12.62s) completed the top three, as Amusan — returning after an extended training stint with legendary coach Glen Mills — faded late in the race.
Williams Steals the Show With Dramatic Finish
The race itself delivered fireworks, with Williams producing a stunning comeback.
After trailing the field for much of the race, the 31-year-old unleashed a furious burst in the final metres to snatch victory from the USA’s Stark, who had looked certain to win.
Meanwhile, World Indoor Champion Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas suffered a heartbreaking DNF after clipping an early hurdle, crashing out before she could challenge.
Amusan’s Rocky Return — But Hopes Remain High
For Amusan, Saturday marked a long-awaited return to competitive hurdling after a mixed 2024 campaign and a seven-month absence from her specialty event.
She had opened her 2025 season last month with a season-best 11.28s in the flat 100m at the Velocity Fest 16 in Kingston, Jamaica, sparking hope of a major comeback.
Her work with Usain Bolt’s former coach, Glen Mills, during the off-season raised expectations. However, the Xiamen result served as a reminder that even world record holders face tough roads back to peak form.
Still, Amusan’s race rhythm and explosive start showed promising signs, suggesting it may only be a matter of time before she reasserts her dominance on the track.
What’s Next for Amusan?
The 28-year-old isn’t done in China just yet. She is set to represent Nigeria in the women’s 4x100m relay at the World Relays in Guangzhou next month, providing another opportunity to sharpen her speed and competitive edge.
Before that, she could feature at the next Diamond League event — the Yangtze River Delta Athletics Diamond Gala at China Textile City Sports Centre on May 3.
As a three-time Diamond League champion and the current world record holder (12.12s), few are betting against Amusan finding her stride again soon.
